Adjustable mud ring assembly

ABSTRACT

A mud ring assembly includes a base member, a movable member, and at least one actuator. The base member is configured to be coupled to a junction box and includes a flange, an opening extending through the flange, and at least one threaded hole extending through the flange. Each threaded hole is spaced apart from the opening. The movable member is positioned in the opening and is configured to support an electrical device. The movable member includes a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is positioned adjacent the first side of the flange and the second edge is positioned adjacent the second side of the flange. The movable member further includes at least one slot positioned proximate the first edge. Each slot is aligned with one threaded hole. The actuator includes a threaded portion, a head, and a bearing flange. Each actuator is secured in one slot by the head and the bearing flange. Each actuator is rotatable relative to the slot. The threaded portion engages one threaded hole such that rotation of the actuator changes the depth of insertion of the movable member within the opening of the base member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of prior-filed, co-pending U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/460,309, filed Feb. 17, 2017, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to mud rings, and particularly toadjustable mud ring assemblies.

Electrical devices (e.g., electrical outlets, switches, and others) aretypically installed in a wall or ceiling. A gang or junction box istypically secured to a stud or support beam inside the wall or ceiling.The electrical device is then secured in the box in electricalcommunication with one or more electrical conductors so that theelectrical device extends or protrudes from the wall or ceiling. In thismanner, any exposed portion of the electrical conductor and itsconnection to the electrical device is shielded within the box. Plasterrings, extension rings, and extenders, commonly known as mud rings, aretypically attached to the box prior to the installation of sheet rock,wall board, or other covering surface material.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a mud ring assembly for supporting an electrical deviceincludes a base member, a movable member, and at least one actuator. Thebase member is configured to be coupled to a junction box and includes aflange, an opening extending through the flange, and at least onethreaded hole extending through the flange. The flange has a first sideand a second side. Each of the at least one threaded hole is spacedapart from the opening. The movable member is positioned in the openingand is configured to support the electrical device. The movable memberincludes a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is positionedadjacent the first side of the flange and the second edge is positionedadjacent the second side of the flange. The movable member furtherincludes at least one slot positioned proximate the first edge. Eachslot is aligned with one of the at least one threaded hole. The at leastone actuator includes a threaded portion, a head, and a bearing flange.A portion of each actuator is secured in one of the at least one slot bythe head and the bearing flange. Each actuator is rotatable relative tothe slot. The threaded portion engages one of the at least one threadedhole such that rotation of the actuator changes the depth of insertionof the movable member within the opening of the base member.

In another aspect, a mud ring assembly for supporting an electricaldevice includes a base member, a movable member, and an actuator. Thebase member is configured to be coupled to a junction box. The basemember includes a flange, an opening extending through the flange, and athreaded hole extending through the flange. The flange has a first sideand a second side. The threaded hole is spaced apart from the opening.The movable member is positioned in the opening. The movable member isconfigured to support the electrical device. The movable member includesa first edge and a second edge. A flange portion protrudes laterallyfrom the first edge and away from the opening. The flange portion isspaced apart from the first side, and the flange portion includes a slotaligned with the threaded hole. The actuator includes a threadedportion, a head, and a bearing flange. A portion of the actuator betweenthe head and the bearing flange is secured in the slot. The actuator isrotatable relative to the slot. The threaded portion engages thethreaded hole such that rotation of the actuator changes the depth ofinsertion of the movable member within the opening of the base member.

The above-described and other features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in theart from the following detailed description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mud ring assembly.

FIG. 2 includes plan, elevation, and perspective views of the mud ringassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 includes plan, elevation, and perspective views of a base member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a movable member with tabs in a firstposition.

FIG. 5 includes plan, elevation, and perspective views of the movablemember of FIG. 4 with the tabs in a second position.

FIG. 6 includes plan, elevation, and perspective views of an actuator.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mud ring assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mud ring assembly according to anotherembodiment.

FIG. 9 is perspective view of the mud ring assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 includes plan, elevation, and perspective views of the mud ringassembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 includes plan, elevation, and perspective views of a base memberaccording to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an movable member according to anotherembodiment, with tabs in a first position.

FIG. 13 includes plan, elevation, and perspective views of the movablemember of FIG. 12 with the tabs in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the following drawings. Thedisclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or ofbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including”and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as usedherein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter andequivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms“mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variationsthereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirectmountings, connections, supports, and couplings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a mud ring assembly 10 according to oneembodiment. The mud ring assembly 10 includes a first portion or basemember 18, a second portion or movable member 22, and actuators 26extending between the base member 18 and the movable member 22. In theillustrated embodiment, the mud ring assembly 10 includes a pair ofactuators 26; in other embodiments, the mud ring assembly 10 may includefewer or more actuators 26. The mud ring assembly 10 may be coupled to ajunction box (not shown) positioned in a wall or ceiling and may supportone or more electrical devices including, but not limited to, anelectric outlet (not shown). In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, the mudring assembly 10 is a double gang mud ring assembly for supporting apair of electrical devices. In other embodiments (e.g., shown in FIGS.8-13), the mud ring assembly 410 may be a single gang mud ring assemblyfor supporting a single electrical device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base member 18 includes a planar flange 30enclosing an opening 34. The planar flange 30 further includes slots 38(e.g., keyhole slots) for coupling the base member 18 to a junction box.The base member 18 further includes an opening peripheral portion orring 42 projecting from a first side 46 of the planar flange 30 andextending substantially along the perimeter of the opening 34. A firstpair of apertures 50 is positioned along one portion of the ring 42 anda second pair of apertures 54 is positioned on an opposite portion ofthe ring 42. The apertures 50 provide clearance spaces for fasteners orscrews of the electrical devices (not shown) positioned in the mud ringassembly 10. The ring 42 also includes grounding tabs 62 extendinginwardly toward the opening 34. The grounding tabs 62 are positioned toengage or contact the movable member 22 (FIG. 2) to prevent any buildupof electricity in the movable member 22.

The base member 18 further includes threaded holes 66 extending throughthe planar flange 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the base member 18includes a pair of threaded holes 66, and the threaded holes 66 arepositioned on opposite sides of the opening 34 from one another. Thethreaded holes 66 may be positioned between the apertures 50, 54. Inother embodiments, the base member 18 may include fewer or more threadedholes 66, and/or the threaded holes 66 may be positioned in a differentmanner.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the movable member 22 may be formed as aclosed wall 74 extending around an enclosed space 78. The wall 74 isdimensioned to fit within the opening 34 (FIG. 3) of the base member 18.In the illustrated embodiment, the movable member 22 includes a firstedge 82 and a second edge 86. A first flange 90 is positioned on oneside of the wall 74 is generally coplanar with the first edge 82. Thefirst flange 90 protrudes from the wall 74 in a direction away from theenclosed space 78. A second flange 98 is positioned on another side ofthe wall 74 opposite the side to which the first flange 90 is connected.The second flange 98 is generally coplanar with the first edge 82 andthe first flange 90, and the second flange 98 protrudes from the wall 74in a direction away from the enclosed space 78. Each of the first flange90 and the second flange 98 includes a pair of openings 102 forreceiving a fastener coupled to an electrical device (not shown), and apair of protrusions 110 forming a slot 114 therebetween. As shown inFIG. 4, the protrusions 110 form an open-ended slot in an initialconfiguration. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the protrusions 110 may bedeflected toward each other to enclose the slot 114 after the actuator26 is positioned in the slot 114. In other embodiments, the movablemember 22 may include fewer or more flanges 90, 98, and/or the firstflange 90 and the second flange 98 may be positioned in a differentmanner.

In addition, two tabs 126 protrude from the second edge 86 of the wall74. In the illustrated embodiment, one of the tabs 126 is connected tothe same side of the wall 74 as the first flange 90, and the other tab126 is connected to the same side of the wall 74 as the second flange98. In an initial configuration (FIG. 4) the tabs 126 are formed to becoplanar with their respective side of the wall 74. However, as shown inFIG. 5, end portions 134 of each tab 126 may be bent or deflectedoutwardly such that the end portions 134 protrude in a direction awayfrom the enclosed space 78.

FIG. 6 illustrates one of the actuators 26 extending between the basemember 18 and the movable member 22. In the illustrated embodiment, theactuator 26 is a fastener including a threaded shank 142, a head 146,and a bearing portion 150 positioned between the head 146 and thethreaded shank 142. The bearing portion 150 includes a bearing flange154 positioned adjacent an end of the threaded shank 142 and acylindrical surface 158 formed between the bearing flange 154 and thehead 146. The cylindrical surface 158 is positioned in the slot 114 ofthe first flange 90 and the protrusions 110 may then be deflected aroundthe cylindrical surface 158. The head 146 and the bearing flange 154prevent the actuator 26 from being removed from the slot 114 (seeenlarged area in FIG. 1) in a direction along the longitudinal axis ofthe actuator 26, while the protrusions 110 prevent the actuator 26 frombeing laterally removed from the slot 114. A similar actuator 26 may bepositioned in the slot 114 of the second flange 98.

As shown in FIG. 7, the movable member 22 is positioned within theopening 34 of the base member 18 such that the first edge 82 of the wall74 is positioned adjacent the ring 42 and the first side 46 of theplanar flange 30, and such that the second edge 86 of the wall 74 ispositioned adjacent the second side 166 of the planar flange 30. Inaddition, the slot 114 of the first flange 90 is aligned with one of thethreaded holes 66 of the base member 18, and the threaded shank 142 ofone of the actuators 26 is threaded into the threaded hole 66.Similarly, the slot 114 of the second flange 98 is aligned with theother of the threaded holes 66, and the threaded shank 142 of the otheractuator 26 is threaded into the threaded hole 66. The end portions 134of the tabs 126 of the movable member 22 extend away from the enclosedspace 78 and are positioned to contact the second side 166 of the planarflange 30, thereby providing a mechanical stop to prevent the movablemember 22 from being completely removed from the opening 34 of the basemember 18.

During installation, an operator can rotate the actuators 26 to threador unthread the threaded shanks 142 relative to the threaded holes 66,thereby changing the position of the movable member 22 relative to thebase member 18. In this manner, the operator may adjust the depth of themovable member 22 as necessary to accommodate various wall thicknesses.

FIGS. 8-13 illustrate a mud ring assembly 410 according to anotherembodiment. The mud ring assembly 410 is similar to the mud ringassembly 10 described above with respect to FIGS. 1-7, and for the sakeof brevity only differences will be described in detail. Similarfeatures are identified with similar reference numbers, plus 400.

The mud ring assembly 410 is a single gang mud ring assembly forsupporting a single electrical device (not shown). As shown in FIGS.8-11, the base member 418 includes a pair of threaded holes 466positioned adjacent opposite corners of the opening 434. Similarly, theslot 514 of the first flange 490 of the movable member 422 is positionedadjacent a corner of the wall 474, while the slot 514 of the secondflange 498 is positioned adjacent an opposite corner. Furthermore, eachof the first flange 490 and the second flange 498 includes a singleopening 502 for receiving a fastener of the electrical device (notshown). In addition, only one end portion 534 of tab 526 is deflected tocontact the second side 566 of the planar flange 430.

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures arepresented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitationupon the concepts and principles presented herein. As such, it will beappreciated that variations and modifications exist within the scope andspirit of one or more independent aspects as described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mud ring assembly for supporting an electricaldevice, the mud ring assembly comprising: a base member configured to becoupled to a junction box and including a flange, an opening extendingthrough the flange, and at least one threaded hole extending through theflange, the flange having a first side and a second side, each of the atleast one threaded hole spaced apart from the opening; a movable memberpositioned in the opening, the movable member configured to support theelectrical device, the movable member including a first edge and asecond edge, the first edge positioned adjacent the first side of theflange and the second edge positioned adjacent the second side of theflange, the movable member further including at least one slotpositioned proximate the first edge, each slot aligned with one of theat least one threaded hole; and at least one actuator including athreaded portion, a head, and a bearing flange, a portion of eachactuator secured in one of the at least one slot by the head and thebearing flange, each actuator being rotatable relative to the slot, thethreaded portion engaging one of the at least one threaded hole suchthat rotation of the actuator changes the depth of insertion of themovable member within the opening of the base member.
 2. The mud ringassembly of claim 1, wherein the base member further includes a ringprotruding from the first side of the plate and extending substantiallyalong a perimeter of the opening.
 3. The mud ring assembly of claim 2,wherein the ring including a plurality of grounding tabs contacting anouter surface of the movable member.
 4. The mud ring assembly of claim1, wherein the movable member further includes at least one tabprotruding from the second edge of the movable member, each tabincluding end portions extending away from the opening and contactingthe second side of the flange to prevent movement of the movable memberrelative to the base member in a first direction beyond a predeterminedpoint.
 5. The mud ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least onethreaded hole includes a pair of holes, wherein the at least one slotincludes a pair of slots, and wherein the at least one actuator includesa pair of actuators.
 6. The mud ring assembly of claim 5, wherein eachof the pair of threaded holes are positioned on opposite sides of theopening of the base member.
 7. The mud ring assembly of claim 5, whereineach of the slots is positioned on a respective flange connected to thefirst edge of the movable member and protruding in a direction away fromone another.
 8. The mud ring assembly of claim 7, wherein each flangeincludes a plurality of openings, each opening configured to be coupledto a separate electrical device.
 9. The mud ring assembly of claim 7,wherein each flange includes one opening configured to be coupled to anelectrical device.
 10. A mud ring assembly for supporting an electricaldevice, the mud ring assembly comprising: a base member configured to becoupled to a junction box and including a flange, an opening extendingthrough the flange, and a threaded hole extending through the flange,the flange having a first side and a second side, the threaded holespaced apart from the opening; a movable member positioned in theopening, the movable member configured to support the electrical device,the movable member including a first edge and a second edge, a flangeportion protruding laterally from the first edge and away from theopening, the flange portion spaced apart from the first side, the flangeportion including a slot aligned with the threaded hole; and an actuatorincluding a threaded portion, a head, and a bearing flange, a portion ofthe actuator between the head and the bearing flange being secured inthe slot, the actuator being rotatable relative to the slot, thethreaded portion engaging the threaded hole such that rotation of theactuator changes the depth of insertion of the movable member within theopening of the base member.
 11. The mud ring assembly of claim 10,wherein the base member further includes a peripheral portion protrudingfrom the first side of the plate and extending substantially along aperimeter of the opening.
 12. The mud ring assembly of claim 11, whereinthe peripheral portion including a plurality of grounding tabscontacting an outer surface of the movable member.
 13. The mud ringassembly of claim 10, wherein the movable member further includes atleast one tab protruding from the second edge of the movable member,each tab extending away from the opening and contacting the second sideof the flange to prevent movement of the movable member relative to thebase member in a first direction beyond a predetermined point.
 14. Themud ring assembly of claim 10, wherein the threaded hole is a firstthreaded hole, the flange portion is a first flange portion, the slot isa first slot, and the actuator is a first actuator, wherein the basemember further includes a second threaded hole extending through theflange, wherein the movable member includes a second flange portionprotruding laterally from the first edge and away from the opening, thesecond flange portion spaced apart from the first side, the secondflange portion including a second slot aligned with the second threadedhole, and further comprising a second actuator including a threadedportion, a head, and a bearing flange, a portion of the second actuatorbetween the head and the bearing flange being secured in the secondslot, the second actuator being rotatable relative to the second slot,the threaded portion engaging the threaded hole such that rotation ofthe first actuator and the second actuator changes the depth ofinsertion of the movable member within the opening of the base member.15. The mud ring assembly of claim 14, wherein the first threaded holeis positioned on an opposite side of the opening of the base member asthe second threaded hole.
 16. The mud ring assembly of claim 14, whereinthe first flange portion and the second flange portion protrude from thefirst edge of the movable member in opposite directions from oneanother.
 17. The mud ring assembly of claim 16, wherein each flangeportion includes at least one opening for coupling to at least oneelectrical device.